Day trips

The 14 Best Day Trips from Oxford

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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There are 14 good day trips from Oxford, United Kingdom, led by London, Birmingham, Bristol. The closest is Reading, about 45 min by car, and 1 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Day trips from Oxford at a glance

DestinationDistanceDrive timeBest as
London83 km E1 hr 20 minFull-day trip
Birmingham92 km NW1 hr 25 minFull-day trip
Bristol98 km W1 hr 30 minFull-day trip
Cardiff136 km W2 hr 10 minFull-day trip
Leicester99 km N1 hr 35 minFull-day trip
Coventry75 km N1 hr 25 minFull-day trip
Brent69 km E1 hr 20 minFull-day trip
Nottingham134 km N2 hr 5 minFull-day trip
Reading38 km SE45 minHalf-day trip
Southend-on-Sea138 km E2 hr 10 minFull-day trip
Brighton129 km SE2 hrFull-day trip
Derby131 km N2 hr 5 minFull-day trip
Southampton95 km S1 hr 30 minFull-day trip
Wolverhampton110 km NW1 hr 45 minFull-day trip

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from Oxford

  1. 1

    London, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 20 min by car83 km east of Oxford2 hr 40 min round trip

    Known for Cyberdog.

    Also nearby: Islington.

  2. 2

    Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 25 min by car92 km north-west of Oxford2 hr 50 min round trip

    Known for Cadbury World.

  3. 3

    Bristol, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car98 km west of Oxford3 hr round trip
  4. 4

    Cardiff, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 10 min by car136 km west of Oxford4 hr 20 min round trip
  5. 5

    Leicester, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 35 min by car99 km north of Oxford3 hr 10 min round trip
  6. 6

    Coventry, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 25 min by car75 km north of Oxford2 hr 50 min round trip
  7. 7

    Brent, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 20 min by car69 km east of Oxford2 hr 40 min round trip
  8. 8

    Nottingham, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 5 min by car134 km north of Oxford4 hr 10 min round trip
  9. 9

    Reading, United Kingdom

    Half-day trip
    About 45 min by car38 km south-east of Oxford1 hr 30 min round trip
  10. 10

    Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 10 min by car138 km east of Oxford4 hr 20 min round trip
  11. 11

    Brighton, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr by car129 km south-east of Oxford4 hr round trip
  12. 12

    Derby, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr 5 min by car131 km north of Oxford4 hr 10 min round trip
  13. 13

    Southampton, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car95 km south of Oxford3 hr round trip
  14. 14

    Wolverhampton, United Kingdom

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 45 min by car110 km north-west of Oxford3 hr 30 min round trip

A sample day trip: Oxford to London

A realistic pace for London, 83 km from Oxford. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

  1. 08:30Leave Oxford
  2. 09:50Arrive in London (1 hr 20 min drive)
  3. 10:05Cyberdog
  4. 12:05Lunch
  5. 13:20Explore the old town, markets and cafes of London
  6. 15:50Head back to Oxford
  7. 17:10Home in Oxford

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Oxford?
The best day trips from Oxford are London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leicester. The closest is Reading, about 45 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Oxford?
Reading is the closest, 38 km south-east of Oxford, roughly 45 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Oxford?
One place is within about an hour's drive of Oxford: Reading (45 min).
What is the biggest city near Oxford for a day out?
London is the largest city in day-trip range, 83 km east of Oxford and about 1 hr 20 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
How far is too far for a day trip from Oxford?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Southend-on-Sea at 138 km, around 2 hr 10 min by car.

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